I know this an old beast BUT ...

[StudentOfHealing]

I know this an old beast but if I cannot vent and speak my mind freely here (within reason); where else can I?

I am quite annoyed; I have several friends who are in a BSN program and it's evident that their course load is extremely light; it's evident that they are babied and quite frankly... it ANNOYS ME.

I was flat out told by professors that they are here to break us down and build us back up. In fact, one professor told me in private that they strive to make exams are ridiculously hard as possible.

In my theory class we had (at one point of time) the class average was a 50%. It's not because we're not studying; I see how we study... we studied hard... it's THOSE exams.

Then after I find out I get ALL C's ... my friend in (BSN) student tells me how she got 2 B's and an A thanks to receiving (wait for it)... bonus points... (HOLD UP... bonus points? what is this... grammar school?)

We get no bonus points, we get NO rounding of grades. My other BSN friend was surprised to hear that professors don't round. (Seriously? Your professors round? this is a professional school; there's NO rounding).

She was also surprised to here we do 2 care plans the night BEFORE ... they do ONE care plan ... and get an entire WEEK.

The part that truly infuriates me is that she says that her classmates truly believe that ADN's are the equivalent of a CNA.

Don't get me wrong; nothing wrong with being a CNA... it just makes me angry because I've spent nights studying (sleepless nights). I've gone to clinical with 1 - 2 hours of sleep.

BOTH are in 3rd semester and have already taken Medsurg 1 & 2 and pharm... and do NOT know the relationship between Mannitol and HF (why it's Contraindicated) ... okay, I guess I can't knock them for not possessing recall knowledge but for the love of the Big Guy, I don't think it's rocket science.

They can talk to me about theories and Florence nightingale but not how the physician will most likely fix Dig Toxicity and what their nursing responsibilities would be.

They can tell me about Barton but not about WHY we check potassium before administering insulin to our DKA patients.

and THEY are preferred to be hired rather than me?

Well FINE... have at it...

when I graduate and am refused a job (I WILL be working on my BSN prereqs) because I don't already have a BSN ... you will lose someone who will:

NOT be scared to get down and dirty

NOT be scared to defend my patients health

GLADLY learn new thing (otherwise I wouldn't bridge to BSN)

GLADLY do the "lowly" task

GLADLY perform the complicated procedures AFTER I understand the rationale and pathophysiology behind my interventions.

Just to add some wood to the fire; my clinical buddy was doing clinical and she floated to another floor b/c her original floor had too many new grads who were shadowing...

she floated to a floor with students from a BSN program and ALL they did was sit, chat, chew gum, and TEXT...

We get sent HOME for having our phone. We get sent home for having a speck of mud on our shoes.

I'm not sure what exactly the studies say about BSN prepared nurses but I think it's malarkey.

I'm sure it can help with management but honestly; you're going to say my hard work has earned me a CNA position?

)= I needed to vent...

[StudentOfHealing]

Since this is an old beast that will never be resolved. Can an higher power please close this thread? Adn and Bsn are both great and needed. Sorry op had a tough experience. Get over. And go vent to your friends. Not to your peers.

This site ... of its many uses ... one is to safely vent.

Next.

[Nolander]

OP I could swear you are talking about the same situation I see in my local area. We have one ADN program in my area (that I attend) and a BSN program that is an extension from a university a few cities away. All of the examples you cited in you original post reflect near exactly how my local ADN vs. BSN programs appear to be. I know quite a few people who have outright failed within the first 2 semester of our ADN program, still decide they want to pursue nursing, get into the BSN program that accepts nearly anyone, and pass with flying colors. My biggest criticism is the differences between skill check offs between the two programs. In my ADN program, we have a list of skills that MUST be practiced in the lab, and then individually checked off by TWO instructors performed exactly the way we were shown in lab. In my program, if you fail to complete any critical step or possibly "harm" the patient in any way, you fail, and then are allowed ONE more chance to perform the skill again. If you fail a second time, you are forced to withdraw from the entire class.

Now, onto the BSN program. They learn their ENTIRE set of skills in just a few weeks. when it comes to "check offs", they literally draw ONE skill written on a piece of paper from a bucket, and then have to perform that skill in front of a teacher. If they complete the skill, they are automatically deemed appropriate to perform EVERY skill. If they fail the skill, they are given remediation by the teacher, and allowed to practice until they get it right. This just boggles my mind to no end.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

How many clinical hours do you do for each of these classes?

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

Oh... do not place words in my mouth... If she/he becomes offended at my vent- that is out of my control. I carry a professional demeanor- whether it the college hallways or he ward.

I welcome opinions, but I'll givey opinion in return.

If she/he feels greatly offender they can move on.

period. point. nothing else to it.

I'm not placing words in your mouth. That's what you said. I quoted you. I think you just need to realize that every nursing program is different and every nursing student is different. Some are going to work hard and others aren't. It doesn't mean one is better than another. And yes, you did say that this was a vent but don't expect to say something like you did and not offend people.

[runsalot]

This site ... of its many uses ... one is to safely vent.

Next.

Oh. We get that you are venting. I was just suggesting that you vent in a more appropriate manner. In your future career you will work with both bsns msn and adns. Learn that blowing up at your peers is not productive. That why I have my non nursing friends. Who will listen to my vents. So my peers dont have to listen to my rants that may be about them and let of steam. We all need to vent. I understand. Pax. Chill. You steam must be almost done.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I've seen this a lot on this site in the few years I've been on my nursing school journey.. (one semester left!!!) It's almost always ADNs venting about BSN... I rarely see BSN's complaining about ADN programs/people. Why is that, I wonder?

The question I'd like to ask to the OP- why do you think YOUR school is doing it right? Do you think it's necessarily safe to have your students up all night before a 12 hour clinical doing a care plan?? Do you think it's right that schools practically beat down students? You talk about coddling... what you're calling coddling, I'm thinking is is a school with a little more respect for its students.

I'm in a BSN program and I can promise we ARE NOT CODDLED. We have to check off on everything too. We have to do care plans too (when they are due depends on the clinical instructor and the clinical). Everything is PASS/FAIL except our exam grades. If they do include other grades it is only added in if our exam grades are passing. Nothing can bump you to a passing grade. We have a LOT of work, just like y'all. Not including our lecture hours we still do the following, in four semesters:

Assessment 90 hours lab

Fundamentals- 90 hours lab+ clinical

Medsurge- 90 hours clinical

ICU- 90 hours clinical

Peds- 90 hours clinical

OB- 64 hours clinical

Mental Health- 90 hours clinical

Medsurge/integration 180 hours clinical

Community Health 90 hours clinical

Of course we have the same classes like patho and pharm that ADNs do-- we also have other BSN specific classes including

Evidence Based Research in Nursing (which required a statistics prereq)

The Aging Family

Management and Leadership

Working in Groups

Nursing school isn't a walk in the park. No instructor in my school would put up with lazy students in clinicals- that would get you a clinical failure-- meaning you fail the class.

ETA: My class averaged about 950 on the HESI this semester-- so our 'coddling' (that makes me giggle) program is doing something right. :)

[StudentOfHealing]

I've seen this a lot on this site in the few years I've been on my nursing school journey.. (one semester left!!!) It's almost always ADNs venting about BSN... I rarely see BSN's complaining about ADN programs/people. Why is that, I wonder?

The question I'd like to ask to the OP- why do you think YOUR school is doing it right? Do you think it's necessarily safe to have your students up all night before a 12 hour clinical doing a care plan?? Do you think it's right that schools practically beat down students? You talk about coddling... what you're calling coddling, I'm thinking is is a school with a little more respect for its students.

I'm in a BSN program and I can promise we ARE NOT CODDLED. We have to check off on everything too. We have to do care plans too (when they are due depends on the clinical instructor and the clinical). Everything is PASS/FAIL except our exam grades. If they do include other grades it is only added in if our exam grades are passing. Nothing can bump you to a passing grade. We have a LOT of work, just like y'all. Not including our lecture hours we still do the following, in four semesters:

Assessment 90 hours lab

Fundamentals- 90 hours lab+ clinical

Medsurge- 90 hours clinical

ICU- 90 hours clinical

Peds- 90 hours clinical

OB- 64 hours clinical

Mental Health- 90 hours clinical

Medsurge/integration 180 hours clinical

Community Health 90 hours clinical

Of course we have the same classes like patho and pharm that ADNs do-- we also have other BSN specific classes including

Evidence Based Research in Nursing (which required a statistics prereq)

The Aging Family

Management and Leadership

Working in Groups

Nursing school isn't a walk in the park. No instructor in my school would put up with lazy students in clinicals- that would get you a clinical failure-- meaning you fail the class.

ETA: My class averaged about 950 on the HESI this semester-- so our 'coddling' (that makes me giggle) program is doing something right. :)

For clinical we complete 100 hours with its respective theory. In addition we must complete 30 hours in community hours and simulations.

A total of 130 hours per theory for 8 weeks for a total of 260/semester.

I would also like to report that my HESI scores are well in line with your schools average....

but please do keep this is mind?

Is your school teaching you to take an exam.... or are they teaching nursing?

on to the next "moonchild"... adios.

[StudentOfHealing]

Nothing conducive is coming from this thread. I had my vent- I saw and synthesized opinions already.

It can totally be closed now.

[flyersfan88]

This post may be a little less offensive and seen more as a vent if every single reply wasn't shooting down every minute detail of a BSN program and how your program is so much harder/better. Just wait until you work in a hospital and can't tell the difference between an ADN student and BSN student. I understand the need to vent, however I'm sure most of us can agree that it doesn't feel very good to be told (in so many words) that other students will not be as competent as graduates from your program based off of the very small sample size you've seen.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

No one is understanding that this is a V E N T.

Get .... (I'm going to say this slowly)

oveeeeeer it.

ok

So I can go to work and tell a fellow RN "you work way too slowly, take poor care of patients, and you eduction stinks. I hate working with you. Just a vent..go about your business"?

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

on to the next "moonchild"... adios.

OK, I must say that I am getting really tired of the namecalling (and, yes, I understand that you are just using their user names). It is really getting rude and taking away from your message. I don't say this very often, but, yes, I agree, this thread should be closed so we don't have to put up with this immature garbage anymore.

[StudentOfHealing]

So I can go to work and tell a fellow RN "you work way too slowly, take poor care of patients, and you eduction stinks. I hate working with you. Just a vent..go about your business"?

Again if you would have ...

r e a d

I said this is not what I would do in life...

thank you for being an example of....

laziness ! (: